Sunday 2 January 2011

The other PDE - Pug Dog Encephalitis


Some good news from UC Davis. They've developed a new DNA test for Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE), a nasty condition also known as necrotising meningoencephalitis (NME). It claims the lives of about one in 100 Pugs.

PDE/NME is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is usually progressive and fatal. Symptoms include seizures, depression, ataxia, abnormal gait and blindness.   Female, fawn Pugs younger than 7 years of age are more apt to develop NME than older, non-fawn males.

Last year, researchers found that pugs that have two identical copies of particular markers have an increased risk of developing the condition (an observed risk of 12.75 over  their lifetime compared to a risk of just 0-1.08 for Pugs that have only one or no copies of these markers). (Reference here.) Now UC Davis has made a test available to Pug owners and breeders.

It's important to note that this isn't a "definitive diagnosis" test, just an indicator of risk.  Only one in eight of those dogs with two copies of the risk markers will develop PDE. But it is useful nevertheless and, interestingly, the markers are located at or near what are known as DLA class II genes - genes that code for the immune system. Genetic diversity in this area of the genome is considered a particularly good thing, as I have documented here.

In other words, using this test to help identify dams and sires that won't produce pups that have two identical copies of the PDE/NME markers could prove to be beneficial in other ways too

More info from UC Davis here.

22 comments:

  1. Well done to the American Kennel Club, the Pug Dog Club of America and of course Dr Greer.

    Now I wonder if the UK Kennel Club will recognise this test as a useful tool?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the heads-up on the UCDavis work. A Facebook friend of mine in the UK just lost her 3 year-old black female pug to PDE.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's so exciting that this test has come out of this kind of research. Associations of risk for disease have been linked with DLA genes in superficial keratitis and anal furunculosis in German Shepherds, hepatitis in Dobermans, SLO in Gordon setters, anal sac gland carcinoma in English Cockers, juvenile generalized demodex, autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis in Giant Schnauzers, SLE disease complex and hypoadrenocortism in Nova Scotia duck toilers, several different breeds have different MHC associations with IMHA, diabetes in several breeds, hypothyroid in different breeds, uveodermatologic syndrome in American Akitas, susceptibility to leishmaniasis, more things come to light all the time.

    This kind of research is not just exciting for the potential of tests in order to make smart breeding choices, but also for management of dogs that have a higher risk. How cool would it be to know that your dog has a high risk of diabetes, for instance, so you can manage it's diet and perform regular testing to catch the disease in it's early stages?

    ReplyDelete
  4. First of all I would like to say I'm not a breeder and I do not condone breeders that have a complete disregard for the health of the puppies they bring into this world, most of which I consider puppy farmers and back yard bandwagon designer mongrel breeders.

    I don't suppose this will be published on the blog but the following makes interesting statistics and puts things into persective. Guess which breed I'm reffering to?:

    1 in 20 have diabtetes in England
    1 in 3 will die of heart disease in England
    1 in 100 will have cancer at any one time in England.




    Which breed do you think? Yes, it's us humans.

    If we DNA tested ourselves for every disease and bred out every genetic abnormality we would die out very quickly. Yes I can understand the need for taking sensible precautions when breeding dogs for our pleasure and testing for the more common genetic problems, but lets have some perspective here people!

    ReplyDelete
  5. If you had watched our beautiful little pug die of PDE this week, you would wish that the breeder had done PDE testing on their dogs, and been more selective of mates. It was the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen, and the pain and agony that he went through was horrendous. He was only a year old. If it can be prevented, then why don't we prevent it from happening? What's the difference between PDE testing for pugs, and vaccines for humans? It is all about PREVENTION- not producing a perfect canine or human specimen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so sorry to hear about your pub, Anon. If you would be interested in telling your/his story more widely in order to help raise awareness of this condition, please email me: jem[AT]pedigreedogsexposed.com

      Jemima

      Delete
  6. To Anonymous,

    My heart goes out to you. I watched my sweet, beautiful 3 year old Grand- pug die of this. I cried & sobbed for days.
    We took her up to K-State animsl Hospital where they have top notch vets.
    They operated on her, but the PDE was so far advanced she didn't make it.
    I thought I would die. They were wonderful there.

    I am thrilled to hear about this new DNA test. I hope it will prevent others from going through the Horror and heartbreak in the future.
    Pugldy6@cox.net

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi just wish we had our two year old pug Holly tested, she was diagnosed with pde last Saturday. Only suffered from this condition since last tuesday. She had no signs of it. She was a healthy little girl until then. It was the most heart braking news we had ever heard. She was rushed to see a neurologist that saturday morning. She was so poorly unable to eat drink see hear and stand. They started her off on steroids and epilepsy drugs. Im so glad to say she is doing really well. She is still wobbly on her feet she's now eating and drinking. No sign of her sight or hearing. But we have everything crossed . We also have another pug which we are going to get tested. Please everyone have your pugs tested

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi, its good post about media print, we all bee aware of media is a
    fantastic source of facts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Verdaderamente, no importa si alguien no comprende, entonces
    depende de otros usuarios que lo asistan, así que
    acá sucede. ¡Volveré, en tanto que he marcado esta página como preferida y lo he twitteado a mis seguidores!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Me aconsejó este blog por mi primo. No estoy seguro
    de si esta publicación fue escrita por él, puesto que absolutamente
    nadie más sabe tan detallada sobre mi problema.
    ¡Eres fabuloso! ¡Gracias! ¡Volveré, ya que he marcado
    esta página como preferida y lo he twitteado a mis seguidores!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Blogo con cierta frecuencia y verdaderamente aprecio tu contenido.
    El artículo verdaderamente ha alcanzado mi máximo interés.
    Voy a marcar su sitio como favorito y continuar buscando nueva información una vez por
    semana. Me suscribí a su fuente RSS asimismo. ¡Volveré,
    en tanto que he marcado esta página como preferida y lo he
    twitteado a mis seguidores!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Disfruto, conduzco a que encontré exactamente lo que acostumbraba a buscar.
    ¡Has terminado mi larga cacería de cuatro días!
    Dios te bendiga, hombre. Que tengas un buen día. ¡Adiós, volveré de nuevo desde que marqué esta página y
    twité esto a mis seguidores!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Since they show no stains, the distractions thereof are lesser and
    also the specialized niche could be dedicated to without any hassles too.
    In fact, it's the cheapest along with the easiest methods to downloadable movies and as
    well as that one could buy bundled 3rd party software totally free of cost.
    Once the perfect design is eligible, identify the medium that may provde the greatest
    return.

    ReplyDelete
  14. If you are confident along with a strong person it
    will reflect when one examines you and when you have multiple tattoos I
    think it allows you to look sexy. :-) It might be clearly heard throughout the
    verses, as if The Futureheads usually are not sick and tired of playing it.
    Apparently they exchanged ideas with Polynesians at that time and therefore there was
    clearly a cross-fertilisation of ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wooden roses is as tiny as less than an inch tall and
    same or little more in width. People appear for things, which can be attractive pieces and they're going to give you a surprising means to walls, along with be
    as well fancy concerning the metal hangings, as they manage to be
    much better selections in the event you manage to spend vast wealth on them.
    The supporters of those candidates also post their particular political videos to compliment
    and grow in popularity for his or her candidates.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wooden roses is often as small as one-half inch high and same or extra in width.
    People appear for things, that happen to be eye catching pieces and they're
    going to supply a surprising ways to walls, along with be too fancy concerning the metal hangings,
    as they have the ability to much better selections if you have the ability to spend vast wealth on them.
    There is a neck to neck competition among renowned brands that keep their models for example Samsung Home Theatre, Sansui Home Theatreand Sony
    Home Theatre competitively priced for assured affordability.

    ReplyDelete
  17. If you are confident and a strong person it is going to reflect when one discusses you and also when you have multiple tattoos
    I think it makes you look sexy. In fact, oahu is the cheapest and also the easiest methods to downloadable movies and along
    with that you could also get bundled third party software totally free
    of cost. Everything you find from now on will only allow you to realise why you individual preference
    are.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi! Quick question that's totally off topic. Do you know
    how to make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when viewing from my apple
    iphone. I'm trying to find a template or plugin that might
    be able to resolve this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kids craft book provides different project ideas for kids to make at home.
    :-) It may be clearly heard through the verses, like The Futureheads are not tired of playing it.
    Once the perfect design is approved, identify the medium that may provde the
    greatest return.

    ReplyDelete
  20. If you are confident plus a strong person it's going to reflect when one talks
    about you and also for those who have multiple tattoos I think it makes you look sexy.
    People appear for things, that are eye catching pieces
    and they'll give you a surprising means to walls, but
    don't be as well fancy regarding the metal hangings, because they
    be capable of be superior selections in case you manage to spend vast
    wealth on them. Everything you find down the road will still only allow you
    to realize why you individual preference are.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gilbert's The Palace of Truth that starred notable theatre
    artist of his time, W. Even those who love the word what without understanding it perfectly well wish
    to watch this channel. Everything you find from now on will simply help you to
    realise why you which team you are.

    ReplyDelete